Starter crank construction for internal combustion engines



March 22, 1932. E Y 1,850,342 7 STARTER CRANK CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l g/m/ 4%INVENTORN %Mr W ATTORNEYS March 22,1932. T. A. DELANEY 1,850,342

STARTER CRANK CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov.19, 1929 2 SheetsSheet 2 A TTORNEY5 Patented Mar. 22, 1932 STATES THOMASA. DELANEY, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO CHARLES s. BROWN, V orSYRACUSE, NEW YORK STARTER CRANK CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES Application filed November 19, 1929. Serial Ito 408,219.

This invention relates to starting mechanisms or starting crankconstructions for 1nterna-l combustion engines, and has for its object aparticularly simple and eflicient coupling between the engine shaft andthe starting crank or shaft when arranged at an angle to each other,whereby the engine shaft can be cranked and after'starting will uncouplethe starting shaft or crank therefrom as readily as in engines whereinthe crank shaft and starting shaft and crank is in alinement and alsowhereby the two shafts will uncouple when the well known kick backaction takes place when the engine fails to start.

The invention consists in the novel featur'es and in the combinationsand constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views. 7 y 1 Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of theframe of the motor agricultural machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of parts seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, of the end of thestarter shaft.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the engine shaft.

Figure 5 is an end view of parts seen in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end View of parts'seen in Figure 4.

My invention, as here shown, is embodied in an agricultural machinehaving a single steering wheel 1 at the front end of its frame 2 withthe engine mounted in the rear of the steering wheelwith the front endof the engine or crank shaft 3 arranged near and in line with thevertical turning axis of the wheel 1 so that the wheel interferes withcranking the engine with a crank in line with the engine shaft.

The wheel 1 is mounted in a suitable fork 4, the head of which isjournalled in an upright bearing 5 at the front endof the frame 2. Theengine is suitably mounted on a frame. Further description is thought tobe unnecessary as the only feature it is necessary to bear in mind isthat the crank shaft 3 or the front end thereof is obstructechby thewheel 1 so that it cannot be cranked with an ordinary. crank alined withthe engine shaft 3. j j r 6 designates the starter-shaft which has theusual crank handle 7. This shaft 6 is preferably permanently mounted ina bearing 8 suitably mounted on the frame 1 and is movable endwise toengage the crank shaft 16 against the action of a returning spring 9.The bearing 8 and the starter shaft 6 are arranged at an oblique angleto the shaft 3 so that the crank handle and the wheel 1 in any angularposition thereof will not interfere crankshaft 3. The other of theshafts 3. 6,

here shown as shaft 6, is provided with a head 14 formed with a ball 15fitting the segmental socket 10, and also with jaws or pins for coactingwith the slots 11 or the jaws formed thereby.

The jaws of the head 14 have a universal joint action so as to remain inengagement with the slots 11 during the turning of the starting crank.The socket and head constitute separable sections of a coupling.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the jaws on the startercrank are trunnions or pins 16 formed at the ends of a member 17extending diametrically of the ball 15 and located in a diametricallyextendingslot 18 formed in said ball. the member 17 being pivotedbetween its ends at 19 to the ball on a'pivot extending diametrically ofthe ball and transversely of the slot 18.

The jaw portions or trunnions project beyond the periphery of the ball.The portion ofthe member 17 within the slot 18 is provided with inclinedsurfaces 20 opposed to the flat bottom 21 of the slot in order toprevent undue pivotal movement of the member a 17 or to permitsuflicient displacement of the I and the trunnions memb'er 17 so thatthetrunnions 16 will enter the slots 11 but at the same time permit auniversal joint action.

In operation, a starting crank is pushed in wardly against the action ofthe returning spring 9 until the ball 15 seats in the socket 10 16interlock in the slots 11. In the event, the trunnions 16 are not alinedwith the slots 11,, when the starter crank is first pushed inwardly, thecrank is'turned un:

til the trunnionsfind the slots and then pushed inwardly toits fullextent While the trunnions are adapting themselves to the slots and theball 15 is seating in the socket 10, the member 17 rocks on its pivotsThe crank is then turned to crank the engine shaft 3 and during suchmovement member 17 rocking on its pivot. 7

When the engine starts under its own'power, the crank is pushedoutwardly by the camming action'of the slots 11 on the trunshaftextending'at an angle to the engine shaft, one of said shaftsbeingformed with a segmental ball socket and with jaws and theothershaft being formed with a ball for entering the socket andpinscomplemental to thejaws of the-socket, the said set'of pinsbeingmountedto'have a universal joint action and said jaws being shapedto shift the startingshaftaxially upon turning of the engine Y shaftrelatively to the starting shaft.

2. The combination with the crank shaft of an internal combustionengine, of a starting shaft extending at an angle to theengine shaft,one of said shafts being formed witha segmental ball socket and withslots extending inwardly from the outer edge of the ball socket andforming a setof jaws and the'other shaft being formed with aball forentering the socket and'with a memberextendingdiametrically of the balland formed with trunnions for entering theslots,-the trunnions formingengaging members complementary to the said set of jaws, said firstmentioned member being mounted in the ball to have a universal jointaction.

3.. The combination with the crank shaft of an internal combustionengine, of a starting'shaft extending at an angle to the en gine shaft,one of said shafts being formed 7 with a segmentalball socket andwith'slots extending inwardly from the outer edge of the ball socket andforming a setof jaws and theother shaft being formed with a ball forentering the socket aand'with a member extending diametrically of theball and formed with trunnions for entering the slots,

the ball 15 and trunnions 16 act universal jointfashion, the

Also, if the enr the trunnions forming engaging members complementary tothe said set of jaws, the ball being formed with a diametricallyextending slot andsaid first mentioned member being located in'the slotand pivoted therein on an'axis extending transversel of the slot anddiametrically of the ball, said trunnions projecting beyondthe peripheryof the ball. The combinationwith the crank shaft oflan internalcombustionfengine, ofa starting shaft extending at an angle to theengine shaft, the crank shaft being formed with asegmental ball socketmember formed with .slots extending inwardly from the outer socketmember and forming a a ball memberemountedaon the edge of the setofjaws, starting shaft complemental to the, socket,

the ball being formed with adiametrical'ly extending slot, a memberpivoted in the slot on an axis extending diametrically of the ball andtransversely of the slot, said memperiphery of the ball forentering saidslots.

5. The combination with the crank shaft.

her having'trunnions projecting beyond the a V shaft and shiftable'intoand out of engagement therewith, a coupling for connecting the shaftsincluding separablesections mounted respectively on the shafts andhaving means forforminga universal joint when thesections are coupledtogether.-

6. The combination with the crank shaft of an internal combustionengine, of a starter crank extending at an angle to the engine shaft andshiftable into and .out of engagementtherewith, a coupling forconnecting the shafts including'se arable sections mount,- edrespectively on t e shafts and having means for forming a universaljoint when the sections are coupled together, said means comprisingsubstantially rigid jaws-on'one of said sections and a membermounted onthe other of said sections to have a universal joint action when thesections are engaged,

said member having pins for coacting with the former jaws.

Y 7. The combination with the crank shaft of an internal combustionengine, ofia starter crank extending at an angle to the engine shaftsandshiftable into and out of engagement therewith, a coupling forconnecting the shafts including separable, sections mount- 7 edrespectively on the shafts and having means for forming a universaljoint when the sections are coupled together,said means comprisingsubstantially rigid jaws on one of said sections and a member mounted onthe other of said sections,.said member extending diametrically of thesection on which it is mounted and being pivoted thereto to have auniversal joint action and being provided with pins to coact with "theformer jaws. I j

.8 The'combination'with the "crank shaft of an internal combustionengine, of a starter crank extending at an angle to the engine shaft andshiftable into and out of engagement therewith, a coupling forconnecting the shafts including separable sections mounted respectivelyon the shafts, one of said sections being provided with diametricallyeX- tending slots opening through the outer face thereof to form jawsand the other of said sections having a diametrically extending memberpivoted between its ends in order to have a rocking movement, saidmember being provided with trunnions at its end forming pins to coactwith the former jaws.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in thecounty of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 16th day of November,1929.

THOMAS A. DELANEY.

